Page 53 of One and Only

Greer was seated at the end of the table, chatting amiably with Josie while Micah pushed Olive on the swing set just behind the house. It was odd to see these two women—so incredibly different and filling two massive roles in my life—connecting with such ease.

Josie had always been on the reserved side, and between the two of us, there was no doubt that Olive came by her withdrawn personality honestly.

When I approached with the apple pie, Greer said something that made Josie laugh, the type of laughter I’d never heard from her—unrestrained and loud.

Josie caught my eye and laid a hand over Greer’s. “I love her,” she proclaimed.

There was no easy response because I could hardly say,I love her too.I was saved from conjuring something when my brand-new wife saw the apple pie.

“Oh, you are the best husband ever,” she gushed.

I set the plate down in front of her, sliding my hand over her back as I took a seat. She leaned into the touch, and because it felt like the right thing to do, I dropped a kiss against the top of her head.

Josie watched the entire exchange with a softness in her eyes. “It’s so good to see you with someone, Beckett.” She tilted her head toward the swing set. “I think she’ll be good for Olive too.”

Greer covered her mouth as she tried to swallow the bite of pie, her eyes wide at the easy compliment.

“Thank you,” she said, voice muffled through her food.

I chuckled under my breath.

Josie shared a look with Micah and nodded. “I think we’re gonna head out soon, but I can’t thank you enough for inviting us. Your family is amazing,” she gushed. She let out a slow breath, leaning in to speak quietly. “I know everything with your dad may have had this happening sooner than you planned, but it really has helped me feel better about leaving with Micah.”

Greer and I traded a look, and underneath the table, she slid her hand over my leg. The gentle touch had the hair on the back of my neck standing up because it was nothing anyone could see, and that quiet show of support in light of how many heavy emotions had gone into this day was almost more than I could handle.

“I want you to be happy, Josie,” I told her. “You and Micah are going to have an incredible year in London, and you know we’ll take great care of Olive while you’re gone.”

“I know,” she admitted. “And I know you could’ve done it on your own.” She paused, shaking her head. “It’s still hard to leave her, but I think that even when I drop her off for the weekend.”

“It’s hard for me too,” I told her.

Josie and I shared a smile.

Greer took another bite of her pie, her eyes widening when the pastor shuffled up to our table. The man looked close to ninety, and at one point in the ceremony, I wasn’t sure he even remembered my name. But he’d known the Wilder family for thirty years, and Greer insisted that he perform the ceremony.

“Greer, Beckett,” he said. “I must be off soon. Shall we take care of the signing of the license?”

My stomach dropped into my feet, but Greer nodded, an easy smile spreading over her face. “Sure. I’ll grab Cameron to witness. We’ll meet you inside the house in five minutes?”

His bushy gray eyebrows popped up. “Oh, you don’t want to take care of it right here?”

She shook her head. “I’d hate to get food or have someone spill on it. Let’s go inside where it’s quiet.”

She was good. Not a flinch on her face.

It was equal parts terrifying and impressive.

He walked toward the house, the folder holding the license in his wrinkled hand. Greer held my gaze for a loaded moment, then broke the connection. “Shall we?” she asked.

I nodded, still fighting that wildly out-of-balance sensation I’d felt any time the license subject came up. For both of us, it was important that the marriage wasn’t legal. That we could simply not file it with the state, and there was no need to go through a divorce or an annulment after Josie returned from London.

We’d tell our families it didn’t work out, but we wished each other the best of luck, and they’d never be the wiser.

As long as we could get the damn thing from Pastor Bill.

I hung back while Greer interrupted a game of horseshoes between the Wilder men. Erik and Parker shouted over rules and cheating and giving correct points—not surprisingly, given they were the two professional athletes in the group—and Cameron laughed with his dad where Tim sat in a chair.

Greer touched Cameron’s arm and said something in his ear. He gave me a brief unreadable look, and then nodded at his sister.

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